1939 – 2016

AUBURN — Julia K. Simpson (Judy), 77, of Auburn passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, Aug. 16, after a short battle with recurrent pancreatic cancer with her devoted husband Kevin by her side.

They were married on Aug. 22, 1959, at St. Joseph’s Church in Lewiston. They moved to Boston, Mass., where they started a family while Kevin attended the Museum school. The historic movements of the sixties influenced their early years together; while raising three small children they also found time to march for civil rights when Martin Luther King Jr. came to town and to protest the increasing U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

Judy obtained a nursing degree at CMCC and had a 25-year career as an LPN at CMMC. She loved caring for patients and even after retiring she volunteered at Androscoggin Hospice.

Judy had many callings, from caring for others with her nursing career, to helping friends and family whenever there was a need. She had a lifelong commitment to social justice, volunteering for CORE, the Maine People’s Alliance and the Democratic Party. As a restless adventurer, she wasn’t afraid to answer any spontaneous call of the wild. She loved to take a last minute drive to watch the sunrise at Acadia National Park, and one of her most unforgettable adventures was a multi-state honeymoon camping trip in a station wagon packed with nine people, including newlyweds, Alok and Mamta Gupta of Mysore, India. The one thing that can not be denied is that she lived for the moment and did and said exactly as she pleased.

Following Judy’s initial diagnosis in January 2013, her husband Kevin showed the true meaning of love through his fierce devotion to her comfort and care. Also, the hugs and conversation when her beloved grandson Isaiah dropped by and her sister Laurie’s daily visits truly brightened her days.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Kevin; her son, Russell Edwards-Simpson and his wife, Louise, and grandchildren, Jane and Charlie Parker; daughters, The Hon. Deborah Simpson and her husband, Manuel Pilar, grandson, Isaiah F. Rembert, and Laurie Jaramillo and her husband, Orlando; brothers, Robert Levasseur and wife, Pauline, Paul Levasseur and wife, Brenda; sisters, Carol Simpkin, Laurie Lee Deraspe and husband, Thomas; her childhood friend, “Aunt” Jeannette Smith and husband, Mike; many nieces and nephews and far too many special friends to mention.

Judy was predeceased by her mother, Louise K. Levasseur; her brother, Hector Levasseur and wife, Susan; her nephew, Richard Boudreau, her loving niece, Stacy Levasseur; and her loyal canine companion, Comet.

The family is eternally grateful to everyone at Androscoggin Hospice for their care and assistance in her final weeks, particularly her nurse, Tammy, and home care assistant, Brittany.